System and method for providing context based services

ABSTRACT

In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of delivering content to a portable electronic device is provided that comprises receiving a request for content; determining a subscription level for a subscriber of the portable electronic device; determining, based on the subscription level, whether to deliver supplementary content with the content; and, if delivery of the supplementary content is to be effected then determining a method of delivery of the content; determining a method of delivery of the supplementary content; determining the supplementary content; and delivering the content and the supplementary content.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/744,568, thecontents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present specification relates generally to telecommunications andmore particularly relates to a system and method for providing mobileservices.

BACKGROUND

Computing technology and networking technology have combined to produceextremely powerful means for telecommunication. However, furtheradvances are to be expected and welcomed.

Portable electronic devices are now commonplace and increasing insophistication and function. Portable electronic devices frequentlycombine the functionality of traditional cellular telephones, wirelesspersonal digital assistants, handheld computers, wireless pagingdevices, media players, cameras and the like.

With the increased functionality of portable electronic devices, so toocomes an increase in the demand for wireless services. Indeed, the arrayof present wireless service offerings is impressive, and yet is probablyonly a small percentage of the full suite of wireless services to come.Indeed, in addition to traditional voice services, portable electronicdevices can now also handle a wide variety of data services, includingemail, mapping, streaming audio, streaming video, chat. Creative serviceproviders will no doubt, develop new services that exploit theimpressive capabilities of portable electronic devices.

Problems exist, however, with new services. One problem is educatingsubscribers about the availability of such services. Another problem iseducating subscribers how to actually use the services. Another problemis devising a compensation model that is appealing to subscribers whichgenerates sufficient revenue to cover the costs of the services. Anotherproblem is modifying the compensation model as a function of thesubscriber's preferences as well as changes in the subscriber's context.Other problems also exist.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of this specification, a method is provided, in aserver, of delivering content to a portable electronic device. Themethod comprises: determining a subscription level for a subscriber ofthe portable electronic device; retrieving a subscriber profileassociated with the portable electronic device; determining, based onthe subscription level and the subscriber profile, whether to deliversupplementary content with the content; when delivery of thesupplementary content is to be effected then: determining thesupplementary content based on the subscription level and the subscriberprofile; and delivering the content and the supplementary content; anddetecting a change in at least one contextual attribute during thedelivery of the content and the supplementary content, and repeating thedetermination as to whether to deliver the supplementary content.

According to another aspect of this specification, a non-transitorycomputer readable medium is provided for storing computer readableinstructions executable by a processing unit of a carrier administratorserver, the instructions for implementing the above method.

According to a further aspect of this specification, a carrieradministrator server is provided, comprising: an interface forconnecting the carrier administrator server connected to a portableelectronic device and at least one content server; a processing unitinterconnected with the interface, the processing unit configured todetermine a subscription level associated with the portable electronicdevice; the processing unit further configured to retrieve a subscriberprofile associated with the portable electronic device; the processingunit further configured to determine, based on the subscription leveland the subscriber profile, whether to deliver supplementary contentwith the content; the processing unit further configured, when deliveryof the supplementary content is to be effected, to: determine thesupplementary content based on the subscription level and the subscriberprofile; and deliver the content and the supplementary content; and theprocessor further configured to detect a change in at least onecontextual attribute during the delivery of the content and thesupplementary content, and to repeat the determination as to whether todeliver the supplementary content

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a system for providing mobileservices.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the portable electronicdevice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart depicting a method of providing mobileservices.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart depicting another method for providing mobileservices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a system for providing mobile services isindicated generally at 50. System 50 comprises at least one portableelectronic device (“PED”) 54 that is operated by a subscriber S. PED 54has a wireless interface and is therefore able to communicate via awireless link 58. Link 58 can be based on any known type of wirelessaccess link, or combinations thereof, including, by way of non-limitingexample, Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”), the Global System forMobile communications (“GSM”), WiMax, 802.11g and its variants,Bluetooth and the like. While link 58 is wireless in a presentembodiment, in other embodiments link 58 can be wired. Indeed, the setof links interconnecting the various components need not be particularlylimited.

At the end of link 58 opposite to PED 54 is a wireless base station 62that is operated by a carrier C. Carrier C also operates at least onecarrier administrative server 66 that connects to base station 62 via abackhaul 70. A terminal 74 is connected to server 66 in order to allow acarrier administrator CA to interact with server 66. Carrier C istypically the carrier with whom subscriber S directly contracts forwireless services, as opposed to a roaming carrier that hasinfrastructure that subscriber S can utilize due to a relationshipbetween carrier C and that roaming carrier. However, it is contemplatedthat PED 54 can access server 66 via a roaming carrier (not shown), inwhich case link 58 can be abstracted to include all of theinfrastructure of one or more roaming carriers.

Base station 62 is also connected to a network 78, such as the Internet,via a backhaul 82. In turn, a plurality of content servers 86-1 and 86-2are connected to network 78. In a present embodiment, only two contentservers 86 are shown, but in other embodiments more content servers canbe provided. Each content server 86 can provide any type of content orservice that subscriber S may wish to access from PED 54. Such contentor service can include, for example, streaming video, streaming audio,text, files, applications, pictures, graphics or any combinationthereof.

For the present description, content server 86-1 will be referred to asprimary content server 86-1 while content server 86-2 will be referredto as secondary content server 86-2.

Carrier administrative server 66 is configured to perform a variety ofdevice management and administrative functions on behalf of carrier C inrelation to PED 54. At least one of those administrative functionsincludes the management of service subscriptions, including aspects ofsubscriptions relating to content requests, by PED 54. Morespecifically, carrier administrator CA using terminal 74 can interactwith server 66, to view, modify, and otherwise manipulate servicesubscriptions that are associated with subscriber S and, morespecifically, the ability and/or rights and/or means to access contentfrom at least one of the content servers 86. Sever 66 is also configuredto access a subscriber profile database 73 via an applicable applicationprogram interface (API) 71. While database 73 is shown outside of thedomain of carrier C in FIG. 1, it is also contemplated that database 73can be within the domain of carrier C as well.

It should be understood that the structure and features of PED 54 canvary. However, to provide a clear example, FIG. 2 shows a block diagramrepresenting exemplary components of PED 54 is shown. PED 54 thusincludes a processor 778 which interconnects input devices of PED 54(e.g. soft keys 742, keyboard 738, a camera lens 762 and a microphone750) and output devices of PED 54 (e.g. a speaker 758, a display 754 anda camera flash 766). Processor 778 is also connected to a persistentstorage device 782. As discussed earlier, persistent storage device 782can be implemented using flash memory or the like, and/or can includeother programmable read only memory (“PROM”) technology and/or caninclude read only memory (“ROM”) technology and/or can include aremovable “smart card” and/or can comprised combinations of theforegoing. Collectively, one can view processor 778 and persistentstorage device 782 as a microcomputer.

PED 54 also includes a wireless radio 786 that connects wirelessly PED54 to base station 62 to provide wireless services and content to PED54. PED 54 also includes a battery 790 which is typically rechargeableand provides power to the components of PED 54. In FIG. 2, forsimplicity battery 790 is only shown connected to processor 78, but itwill be understood that battery 790 is connected to any component (e.g.the CCD associated lens 762, radio 786, display 754 and flash 766)within PED 54 that needs power to operate. PED 54 also includes volatilestorage 794, which can be implemented as random access memory (“RAM”),which can be used to temporarily store applications and data as they arebeing used by processor 778.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a method for providing mobile services isdepicted in the form of a flowchart and indicated generally at 300. Forthe purposes of assisting in further understanding of system 50 andmethod 300, it will be assumed that method 300 is performed using system50. However, it should be understood that system 50 and/or method 300can be varied, and need not be performed in conjunction with each other.

Beginning first at step 305, a request for content is determined. Step305 can be responsive to subscriber S using PED 54 to enter a requestfor some form of content—for example, content that is available onserver 86-1. The request entered by subscriber S can be received atserver 66 which will ultimately perform step 305. Step 305 can also beresponsive to the server 66 or server 86-1 determining by algorithmicmeans that content is to be delivered to subscriber S via PED 54 per thesubscriber's preferences and upon the attainment of various criteriaincluding time and contextual attributes such as location and presence.

Next, at step 310, the subscription package for the subscriber issuingthe request at step 305 is determined and the subscriber's preferencesare retrieved. Step 310 is performed by server 66, which examines itsrecords to ascertain the nature of the subscriber S's subscription andto retrieve the subscriber S's preferences from the subscriber's profiledatabase 73.

Next, at step 315, a determination is made as to whether supplementarycontent should be delivered along with the content specificallydetermined at step 305. The determination made at step 315 is based onthe subscription package for subscriber S as determined at step 310 inconjunction with the subscriber preferences as retrieved as step 310 aswell as a set of contextual attributes that may include the nature ofthe electronic device being utilized by the subscriber, the location ofthe subscriber, whether the subscriber is roaming, their proximity tovendors of services or products, or the attributes of the availablecommunications links to the subscriber's portable electronic device. Putin other words, in certain circumstances the determination step at 315will indicate that supplementary content should be delivered, whereas inother circumstances supplementary content should not be delivered.

If the determination at step 315 is “no”, that supplementary contentshould not be delivered, then method 300 advances from step 315 to step320 at which point the content requested at step 305 is delivered. Thus,at step 320, server 66 will communicate with content server 86-1 thatsupplementary content should not be delivered, and the content on server86-1 will be delivered to PED 54. Those skilled in the art will nowrecognize that content may be stored on more than one server and thatthe server may communicate with more than one context server in order toeffect delivery of the applicable content.

At step 320, content will continue to be delivered subject to a changein the delivery mechanism or context until the subscriber S terminatesthe request for delivery of content or the content delivery from server86-1 is otherwise completed. Changes in the delivery mechanism andcontext can include a change in the subscriber's device, a change in thenature of the communication links to the subscriber's PED, a change inthe subscriber's location, the subscriber entering a roaming state viaanother network.

At step 320, if a change in the delivery mechanism or context isdetermined, then the delivery of content can be suspended and the methodwill proceed to step 315 in order to determine whether supplementarycontent should be delivered. Whether the content is suspended will bedetermined by the server 66 based on a variety of factors including, forexample: a) the capabilities of PED 54, b) the nature of the availablecommunications links, c) any user preferences for delivery ofsupplementary content, d) any service levels associated with thesubscription for subscriber S, e) other contextual attributes such asthe location of the subscriber, the roaming state of the subscriber, orthe subscriber's proximity to vendors of services or products, and/or f)other attributes such as subscriber's demographic information, the time,and/or date.

Those skilled in the art will now recognize that the foregoingdescription of steps 305, 310, 315 and 320 can reflect traditionalcontent requests—such as requests for streaming audio—i.e. music and thelike, streaming video—i.e. movies and the like, the delivery offiles—i.e. pictures, music files, movies and the like, and applicationsi.e. games, and utilities and the like.

If, however, a determination is made at step 315 is “yes”, thatsupplementary content should be delivered, then method 300 advances fromstep 315 to step 330.

At step 330, which is typically performed by server 66, the method ofcontent delivery is determined for the content that was requested fromserver 86-1. This determination is based on a variety of factors,including for example: a) the capabilities of PED 54, b) the nature ofthe available communications links, c) any user preferences for deliveryof content, d) any service levels associated with the subscription forsubscriber S, e) other contextual attributes such as the location of thesubscriber, the roaming state of the subscriber, or the subscriber'sproximity to vendors of services or products, and/or f) other attributessuch as the time and date.

Factors associated with the capabilities of PED 54 can include, forexample, buffer sizes, the screen resolution and any video codecs thatare specific to PED 54, as in the case of a streaming video contentrequested from server 86-1. User preferences for content delivery caninclude, for example, in the case of streaming video, film genres,language preferences, the presence of sub-titles. Service levels forcontent delivery can include, for example, in the case of streamingvideo, the resolution of the picture and the quality of the sound thatmay be associated with given video or audio codecs. Generic servicelevels can include the quality of service levels as determined by themaximum bandwidth and latency for subscriber. It should be reemphasized,however, that these are all examples and other factors can also be usedto determine the method of content delivery in addition to, or in lieuof, the specific examples given.

At step 335, which is typically performed by server 66, the method fordelivery of supplementary content is determined for the supplementarycontent that is to be delivered with the content from server 86-1. Thoseskilled in the art will now recognize that content as well assupplementary content can be stored on more than one server and that thecontent and supplementary content need not be stored on the same serveror servers as the case may be. This determination is also based on avariety of factors including, for example: a) the capabilities of PED54, b) the nature of the available communications links, c) any userpreferences for delivery of supplementary content, d) any service levelsassociated with the subscription for subscriber S, e) other contextualattributes such as the location of the subscriber, the roaming state ofthe subscriber, or the subscriber's proximity to vendors of services orproducts, and/or f) other attributes such as subscriber's demographicinformation, the time, and/or date.

Next, at step 340, a determination is made as to the actualsupplementary content that will be delivered in accordance with thedeterminations made at step 330 and 335. This determination can also bemade based on the nature of the subscription determined at step 310 aswell as the subscriber's profile retrieved at step 310, and it can alsobe chosen to complement, if desired, the content that was requested fromserver 86-1. In the present example, it can be determined that thesupplementary content will be obtained from server 86-2.

Next, at step 345, the content from server 86-1 as determined at step305, and the supplementary content from server 86-2 as determined atstep 340, are delivered to PED 54 in accordance with the determinationsmade at step 330 and step 335. At step 345, content and supplementarycontent will continue to be delivered subject to a change in thedelivery mechanism or context until the subscriber S terminates therequest for delivery of content or the content delivery is otherwisecompleted. Changes in the delivery mechanism and context can include achange in the subscriber's device, a change in the nature of thecommunication links to the subscriber's PED, a change in thesubscriber's location, the subscriber entering a roaming state viaanother network.

At step 345, if a change in the delivery mechanism or context isdetermined, then the delivery of content or supplementary content may besuspended and the method will proceed to step 315 in order to determinewhether supplementary content should be delivered. Whether the contentor supplementary content is suspended will be determined by the server66 based on a variety of factors including, for example: a) thecapabilities of PED 54, b) the nature of the available communicationslinks, c) any user preferences for delivery of supplementary content, d)any service levels associated with the subscription for subscriber S, e)other contextual attributes such as the location of the subscriber, theroaming state of the subscriber, or the subscriber's proximity tovendors of services or products, and/or f) other attributes such assubscriber's demographic information, the time, and/or date.

Having provided a general discussion regarding method 300, it is usefulto also discuss some specific implementations that can be effected usingmethod 300. For example, assume that subscriber S uses PED 54 at step305 to request to view a movie stored on server 86-1. Assume also thatsubscriber S has selected a service plan from carrier C that does notinclude permissions for subscriber S to view movies via link 58, as partof the “air-time” package purchased by subscriber S from carrier C.Thus, the determination made at step 310, in this example, is thatsubscriber S is not permitted to view the movie stored on server 86-1.As a minor variation to method 300, at this point subscriber S could bequeried via PED 54 as to whether subscriber S wishes to change itsservice plan to include permissions to view movies via link 58, and topay appropriate premiums for such changes; or subscriber S can be askedif subscriber S would be willing to receive supplementary content, inaddition to the requested content, in exchange for being permitted toview the movie on server 86-1 without payment of additional fees orchanges to the subscriber's subscription. Assuming, in this variation,that subscriber S selects the latter option (i.e. to receivesupplementary content), then at step 315 it would be determined that“yes” supplementary content is to be delivered.

Thus, at step 330 the determination is made as to the method of contentdelivery. Step 330 is performed as previously described, with againattention being paid to content delivery factors that are specific toPED 54 and the nature of the content requested at step 305. Step 335 islikewise performed substantially as previously described. Morespecifically, it can be determined at step 335 as to whethersupplementary content, which in this case could be advertising thatwould generate revenue for carrier C to supplement and/or pay for thelicensing fees for accessing the movie stored on server 86-1. Step 335can thus also include a determination as to what form such contentdelivery would take; by way of non-limiting examples: a streaming bannerrunning across a portion of the display 754 of PED 54, or full videocommercials that are spliced into appropriate points of the movie thatis being delivered from server 86-1.

It is also contemplated that the frequency and/or quantity ofsupplementary material that is presented in the form of advertising, canalso be variable based on the subscription for subscriber S. That is tosay, subscriber S can elect to subscriptions from carrier C that includeincreasing fees in exchange for decreasing levels of delivery ofsupplementary material, with the highest fee level offering no deliveryof supplementary material whatsoever.

At step 340, the actual supplementary content that is to be delivered isdetermined. The supplementary content can be complementary to thematerial requested from server 86-1 and/or the demographics and/or otherfactors as previously discussed. For example, assuming that subscriber Sis a twenty-five year old man who has elected to watch the film “2 Fast2 Furious” on server 86-1, then the supplementary material from server86-2 can be chosen to be advertisements relating to automobiles.However, as a further variation, the content selected at step 340 can befurther varied by any privacy settings mandated by subscriber S or bylocal laws, such that, for example, the age and gender of subscriber Scan be suppressed from the criteria used to select content from server86-2.

At step 345, the content and the supplementary content are delivered inthe manner previously discussed.

Other examples of specific implementations that can be effected usingmethod 300, other than the above, are contemplated. For example, assumethat subscriber S uses PED 54 at step 305 to request to view a map ofthe city of Los Angeles stored on server 86-1. Assume also thatsubscriber S has selected a service plan from carrier C that includes arequest to automatically provide adjunct content in request to anycontent requested via server 66, as part of the “air-time” packageacquired by subscriber S from carrier C. Thus, the determination made atstep 310, in this example, is “Yes”, subscriber S is to receivesupplementary content for such map requests.

Thus, at step 330 the determination is made as to the method of contentdelivery. Step 330 is performed as previously described, with againattention being paid to content delivery factors that are specific toPED 54 and the nature of the content requested at step 305. Step 335 islikewise performed substantially as previously described. Morespecifically, it can be determined at step 335 as to whethersupplementary content, which in this case could be weather for the Cityof Los Angeles. Step 335 can also include a determination as to whatform such content delivery would take; by way of non-limiting examples:a streaming banner running across the top, bottom or side of display 754of PED 54.

At step 340, the actual supplementary content that is to be delivered isdetermined. The supplementary content, in this example, can be a requestfrom server 86-2 for local weather conditions in Los Angeles, whileserver 86-1 contains the actual mapping information requested at step305. At step 345, the content and the supplementary content aredelivered in the manner previously discussed.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a method for providing mobile services inaccordance with another embodiment is represented in flow-chart andindicated generally at 400. Method 400 can be, though need not be, usedsubsequent to performance of step 345. Like method 300, method 400 canalso be performed on system 50 or variants thereof. Also, it should beunderstood that method 400 can also be varied, itself.

Method 400 provides a number of decisions and modifications that can bemade, typically by server 66 and/or PED 54, during the delivery ofcontent and supplementary content. In variations of method 400, not allof the actual steps shown therein need be performed, and like allmethods discussed herein, the steps of method 400 need not be performedin the exact order shown.

Beginning at step 405, a determination is made as to whether the devicehas been changed. For example, subscriber S can elect during performanceof step 345 to terminate delivery of content on PED 54 and elect to havethat content continued to be delivered on another device. For example,where PED 54 is configured to operate on a global access network(“GAN”), whereby PED 54 can roam from wide area networks to local areanetworks. In this example, where subscriber S initiates step 345 viaover a wide area network but then roams to a local area network withinthe home of subscriber S, subscriber S can elect to terminate receivingthe content on PED 54 and redirect the remainder of the presentation ofthe content on the desktop computer or other device, such as atelevision, within the home of subscriber S. Thus, step 410 isconfigured to manage the appropriate handoff between PED 54 and theother device that will be used. It is contemplated that step 405 andstep 410 can be implemented for any change from PED 54 to any otherdevice capable of performing substantially the same functions needed toperform step 345.

Step 415 is a determination for modifying the supplementary content. Forexample, in the map of Los Angeles scenario provided earlier, thesupplementary content, the form of a weather report for Los Angeles, canbe periodically updated as updates to weather reports are made.Likewise, in the scenario whereby subscriber S is viewing a movie, thenthe supplementary content in the form of advertising can be changedaccording a change in the context of subscriber S including thesubscribers location or roaming state. For example, where subscriber Sinitiates method 300 in the USA, but then drives over the border intoCanada, then the advertising presented as supplementary content can bechanged to Canadian-centric advertising from US-centric advertising.

Step 425 is a determination to modify the method of delivery. Step 430can thus be effected when subscriber S has changed devices at step 405,so that the method of delivery of either the supplementary or therequested content can be modified to suit the particular device beingused. Likewise, step 430 can be effected when PED 54 roams such that thequality or the nature of communication link 58 changes, therebyaffecting the amount of bandwidth available thereover, and therebyinfluencing the overall quality of the content being delivered to PED54.

Step 435 is a determination as to whether to modify the contentoriginally determined at step 305, with step 440 dedicated to actuallychanging that content. Such a modification to the content could be basedon, for example, subscriber S “switching channels” to another videostream offered on server 86-1. As another example, such modification tothe content could be based on algorithmic means based on subscriber'spreferences and upon the attainment of various criteria including timeand contextual attributes such as location. Other examples forsituations where it can be determined to modify content will now occurto those of skill in the art.

Step 445 is a determination as to whether to pause an overall subscribersession. Where the content being delivered is a movie, then such adetermination can be made based on a request of the subscriber to“pause” the movie.

Step 455 is a determination as to whether to terminate the session. Thetermination could be made because the subscriber elected to terminatethe session, or the subscriber had paused the session beyond apredefined period of time, because delivery of the content was complete.Termination could occur due to a change in the delivery mechanism orcontext (e.g. subscriber location) such that the content orsupplementary content can no longer be delivered. If the session is notterminated then method 400 can return to step 345. If the session isterminated, then step 460 can be used to bank rewards or credits. Forexample, a promotion, loyalty, or reward program consisting of pointscan be implemented whereby the subscriber S obtains reward points, orcredits, for having received certain amounts of content and/orsupplementary content.

While the foregoing describes certain exemplary embodiments, it shouldbe understood that combinations, variations and subsets of thoseembodiments are contemplated. For example, it should be understood thatwhile the embodiments herein relate to portable electronic devices, theembodiments can be modified to work with nomadic or fixed electronicdevices.

1. A method in a server of delivering content to a portable electronicdevice comprising: determining a subscription level for a subscriber ofthe portable electronic device; retrieving a subscriber profileassociated with the portable electronic device; determining, based onthe subscription level and the subscriber profile, whether to deliversupplementary content with the content; when delivery of thesupplementary content is to be effected then: determining thesupplementary content based on the subscription level and the subscriberprofile; and delivering the content and the supplementary content; anddetecting a change in at least one contextual attribute during thedelivery of the content and the supplementary content, and repeating thedetermination as to whether to deliver the supplementary content.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the content is a map and the supplementarycontent includes weather conditions for a location on the map.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising, when the subscription level doesnot indicate whether to deliver the supplementary content, sending aquery to the portable electronic device querying whether the subscriberwishes to receive the supplementary content.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein the subscription level includes an indication of whether thesubscriber has elected to receive the supplementary content when thesubscriber is roaming.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising,prior to determining a subscription level, receiving a request for thecontent from the portable electronic device.
 6. The method of claim 1wherein the subscription level includes an indication of whether thesubscriber is to receive the supplementary content.
 7. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the set of contextual attributes includes one or more ofa type of the portable electronic device, the location of the portableelectronic device, the presence of the portable electronic device,proximity of the portable electronic device to vendors of services orproducts, or attributes of available communications links portableelectronic device.
 8. A carrier administrator server comprising: aninterface for connecting the carrier administrator server connected to aportable electronic device and at least one content server; a processingunit interconnected with the interface, the processing unit configuredto determine a subscription level associated with the portableelectronic device; the processing unit further configured to retrieve asubscriber profile associated with the portable electronic device; theprocessing unit further configured to determine, based on thesubscription level and the subscriber profile, whether to deliversupplementary content with the content; the processing unit furtherconfigured, when delivery of the supplementary content is to beeffected, to: determine the supplementary content based on thesubscription level and the subscriber profile; and deliver the contentand the supplementary content; and the processor further configured todetect a change in at least one contextual attribute during the deliveryof the content and the supplementary content, and to repeat thedetermination as to whether to deliver the supplementary content.
 9. Thecarrier administrator server of claim 8 wherein the content is a map andthe supplementary content includes weather conditions for a location onthe map.
 10. The carrier administrator server of claim 8, the processorfurther configured, when the subscription level does not indicatewhether to deliver the supplementary content, to send a query to theportable electronic device querying whether the subscriber wishes toreceive the supplementary content.
 11. The carrier administrator serverof claim 8 wherein the subscription level includes an indication ofwhether the subscriber has elected to receive the supplementary contentwhen the subscriber is roaming.
 12. The carrier administrator server ofclaim 8, the processor further configured, prior to determining asubscription level, to receive a request for the content from theportable electronic device.
 13. The carrier administrator server ofclaim 8 wherein the subscription level includes an indication of whetherthe subscriber is to receive the supplementary content.
 14. The carrieradministrator server of claim 8 wherein the set of contextual attributesincludes one or more of a type of the portable electronic device, thelocation of the portable electronic device, the presence of the portableelectronic device, proximity of the portable electronic device tovendors of services or products, or attributes of availablecommunications links portable electronic device.
 15. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium for storing computer readable instructionsexecutable by a processing unit of a carrier administrator server, theinstructions for implementing a method comprising: determining asubscription level for a subscriber of the portable electronic device;retrieving a subscriber profile associated with the portable electronicdevice; determining, based on the subscription level and the subscriberprofile, whether to deliver supplementary content with the content; whendelivery of the supplementary content is to be effected then:determining the supplementary content based on the subscription leveland the subscriber profile; and delivering the content and thesupplementary content; and detecting a change in at least one contextualattribute during the delivery of the content and the supplementarycontent, and repeating the determination as to whether to deliver thesupplementary content.